TxDOT's statewide Share the Road motorcycle safety and public awareness campaign urges motorists to look twice for motorcycles at intersections and when changing lanes, the two places where serious motorcycle collisions commonly occur.

Over the past five years, 2,354 motorcyclists have been killed in Texas. In 2014, Texas motorcycle crashes killed 455 motorcyclists. Half of the motorcyclists killed were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. One-third of motorcycle fatalities took place at intersections. Approximately 49 percent of motorcyclists who died in 2014 were riding in rural areas of the state.

“We see far too many deadly motorcycle crashes on Texas roadways, so we are telling drivers to be extra diligent when sharing the road,” said TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC (Ret). “We’re constantly told drivers simply didn’t see the motorcyclist until it’s too late. As drivers, it is incumbent upon us to be fully aware of our surroundings at all times and take proactive measures to ensure the safety of motorcyclists.” Because motorcycles have a much smaller profile than other vehicles, it can be difficult for drivers to judge the speed and distance of an approaching motorcycle. As a result, drivers involved in crashes with motorcycles say they never saw the motorcyclist and were unable to react in time to prevent the crash.